Chris Jones, a frequent reader of this blog, asked me for some suggestions on books about teaching and education. I rifled my shelves and pulled off my top ten (or so). There are many, many more, and some of you my have some suggestions, but these are mine. (I’ve got a lecture on the web that skips through some of this stuff.)
It is my custom to read a book on education during the summer and then to read one over Christmas break, if time and schedule permit. I’ve read each of these, and learned deeply from each.

J. Epstein, Masters: Portraits of Great Teachers. About teachers — famous ones and not so famous ones.
A. Bartlett Giamatti, A Free and Ordered Space: The Real World of the University. Brilliant collections of essays on a liberal education.
M. Adler, Reforming Education: The Opening of the American Mind. At the heart of Adler’s educational proposals are these seminal essays.
J.M. Banner, Jr., H.C. Cannon, The Elements of Teaching. Nuts and bolts, written with class.
D.P. Verene, The Art of Humane Education. Brilliant essay.
M. Schwehn, Exiles from Eden. There’s lots in this book.
P. Palmer, To Know as We are Known. A classic about a more existential theory of education.
A. Holmes, Shaping Character. Moral education.
J. Barzun, Begin Here: The Forgotten Conditions of Teaching and Learning. A warning about the decline in the West.
J. Pelikan, The Idea of the University: A Reexamination. Interaction with John Henry Newman’s famous book.
Maryellen Weimer, Learner-Centered Teaching: Five Key Changes to Practice. The best book I’ve seen on outcome-based education.